Further thoughts
I’ve recently been involved in a committee interacting with a website developer regarding the creation of a new college website in which I specifically asked about catering for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. Some of the developer’s principles on universal design are relevant to Edmodo including:
• The website maintains a consistent design and page layout throughout i.e. logos and links appear in the same place which is relevant to students who have difficulty with poor navigation features.
• Background colour and contrast are simple, obviously tested and available at different resolutions to aid students with poor vision or those who suffer from colour-blindness in deciphering text.
• Standard HTML is used that can be used across multiple browsers.
• Videos have audio or text to aid students with hearing difficulties or those who have older technology.
• Links avoid using the term ‘click here’, but rather contain text relevant to the link or pictures such as a book for library or house for home. This is also particularly relevant in searches by search engines or software assisting those who are visually impaired.
Social networking can often be used as an escape from reality and people will portray an ideal rather than real image of themselves. For example in Edmodo it’s interesting to see the variety of profile pictures students choose and ask them for their rationale in doing so. Students with learning difficulties/disabilities often feel they have a label attached to them and social networking can help them remain anonymous allowing them to promote other aspects of their identity. These topics are particularly relevant in my colleagues’ discussion in the second life virtual classroom. ...
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...978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Wadman, B. (2013). Future of E-learning in Thailand: Edmodo VS Moodle. The 33rd Annual Thailand TESOL International Conference, January 25-26, 2013, Khoen Kaen, Thailand. http://www.academia.edu/3563716/Edmodo_versus_Moodle_-_The_Future_of_Virtual_Learning_Environments_in_Thailand Accessed online 21/05/2014.
WCER (2011). Wisconsin Centre for Education Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison Benefits and Drawbacks of Social Media in Education Summer 2011 Vol. 22, No. 4 http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/publications/highlights/v22n4.pdf Accessed online 26/05/2014
Wordpress (2014) http://educationandtechtalks.wordpress.com/edmodo/ http://educationandtechtalks.wordpress.com/second-life/
http://educationandtechtalks.wordpress.com/interactive-whiteboards-2/
This will benefit Billy and his peer helper. The device would be considered low tech. Since Billy wears glasses he can use a computer with a screen reading software. Which will allow him to see the text displayed and hear what is being said while looking at the word. Screen reading software would be considered high tech. Both devices can be used to assist Billy in a regular classroom. Billy can use the classroom devices at desk to have a better understanding of what’s being taught. During choice or computer time Billy can use the screen reading to review what he didn’t understand during teaching instructions. I think both devices will interest and encourage Billy to want to
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
In a special education classroom, a new world has been opened up. For the younger and lower engaged students, we have the online program starfall. This program is uploaded from the computer to the Smartboard. The students can work on vowel sounds, vowel rules and sight words all with radiant animation in color and sound. They see the words and sounds and make a visual connection. We can also use the online program Raz-kids for the student to read a story on their level of instruction. The teacher can also check the students’ comprehension with a quiz that follows each story. It is like being at a picture show. The big screen brings reading to a wonderful and pleasurable level. The program gives the teacher a report that tells what readi...
VYGOTSKY, LS (1978), ‘Mind in Society: Development of Higher Psychological Processes’, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
...red for my college courses. Additionally, I always keep a small notepad with me so I can jot down words that I am unfamiliar with.
The first principle of universal design is to make sure that the product is usable by persons with disabilities. Equitable design means products should be created in a way equivalent to products used by persons without special needs and does not alienate the user with special needs in anyway. Not only should the design be appealing, but also meet safety and privacy needs of the user (Connell, Jones, Mace, et al, 1997). The second principle also focuses on the use of the product. Flexibility in the design should accommodate a range of physical abilities, e.g. right or left handedness, and usage options (Connell, Jones, Mace, et al, 1997). Likewise, the design should facilitate the varying intellectual and physical skills of the intended user. Prompting and information should be simply arranged to meet user expectations.
Vygotsky, L.S. (1978) Mind in Society: The development of higher mental processes, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
The web is no longer a read only product, it now has the ability to be interactive and particpatory. Users are able to interact over the internet with each other with instant messaging and emails and use social networks to share news, videos, and photos with others, bringing people with common interest, opinions, and experiences together and closer. Some of the most popular social networks include Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. Currently social networks are mostly used to keep in touch with friends, colleagues, peers and family, there are far more benefits, that the social media platform can provide. This paper explores the topic of social media in modern education. There are benefits and disadvantages to social media being used in the classroom setting, and they are discussed in detail through the paper.
"The 10 Best and Worst Ways Social Media Impacts Education - Edudemic."Edudemic. Jeff Dunn, 11 July 2011. Web. 15 May 2014.
Assistive technology plays an important role in the learning process for individuals with disabilities. Assistive technology is defined as "any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities." (Maushak, Kelley & Blodgett, 2001, p. 419) Assistive technology is very beneficial to individuals that have disabilities. For example, students with mental retardation benefit from extremely organized learning situations because of their limited cognitive abilities. Students who are hearing impaired, blind, or visually impaired may need differentiated pedagogical materials. More emphasis should be placed on visual materials for students with hearing impairments than for other students. Modifying instruction for all students, especially exceptional students, requires strong dependence on media, materials and technology and the right choice of these components to fit particular ends. Moreover, research has indicated that technology not only can be adapted for use with students with disabilities, but when used can enhance students' educational achievement and self-image. (Duhaney & Duhaney, 2000, p. 393) With this knowledge, there have been many new products that have been developed to help individualize programs to fit the criteria for specific disabilities. Through out this paper we will be disusing three different pieces of assistive technologies. We will be looking at Dynawrite, AlphaSmart, and Texthelp and the benefits of each program.
Supporters of social networking sites say that the online communities promote increased interaction with friends and family; offer teachers, librarians, and students valuable access to educational support and materials. Social networks are now widespread in our world with existing social networks expanding, social networking sites are being created for educators, medical professionals all accessible 24 hours a day via computer, tablet, smart phone, and Internet-enabled devices. Challengers of social networking say that the sites prevent face-to-face communication, waste time on frivolous activity and spread false and potentially dangerous information.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher mental process. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind In Society:the development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, Ma: Harvard University Press.
Technology, as we all know, is helping and improving many disciplines of life. Technology, in Britannica Encyclopedia, is defined as the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life. (Britannica, 2009)
Modern technology has made it so much easier to obtain educational information for classroom or homework assignments. It offers educational games that stimulate the brain and help children who have difficulties focusing on traditional teaching and learning procedures. College students are even taking advantage of online courses that many colleges are offering as an alternative to physically attending classes. Advances in technology and computers will continue to play an important role in education for many generations to come.